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The Ultimate Guide on How to Write a Resume in 2021

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Posted On 21 Jul 2021

We are now in the second half of 2021. Have you found meaningful work yet? If your resume is not getting you the results you want, it may be time to clean it up a bit with a few key resume writing tips 2020 . Make sure to use these tips to get ahead of the competition and finally get your foot in the door toward the career path you’re aiming for.

1. Plan your resume

Perhaps the most important of all resume writing tips 2021—before you begin writing a resume in 2021, you must first decide which type of resume works best: chronological, functional, or combination. Here’s the definition for each one so you’ll know the right one to write for your career situation.

• Chronological resume – the traditional type of resume, with the work experience listed in reverse chronological order.

• Functional resume – the type of resume that prioritizes skills over experience in order to take away attention from problematic career decisions.

• Combination resume – picks the best qualities of both the chronological and functional resume and merges them.

After choosing your resume type, you need to plan your resume sections according to the position and your specific career situation. Most people arrange their sections like so:

• Summary Statement

• Work Experience

• Professional Organizations

• Education

• Skills and Certifications

You can personalize these sections according to your needs, but avoid deviating too much from what recruiters and hiring managers expect to see.

2. Begin with a personal branding statement

For 2021 resume tips, well-crafted personal branding is not only important but crucial. Just like the “Bio” section of your social media pages, your resume’s personal branding statement gives a better understanding of who you are and your mission. Below your job title, write a sentence or phrase that best encapsulates your passion, profession, and/or accomplishments. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Use active verbs, focus on what you’re good at, and think over the keywords and make sure they feel fresh, not overused. Here are some examples:

• I build brands with small businesses.

• I make B2B transactions simpler and more cost-effective.

• Helping IT professionals achieve technical mastery over integrated management systems.

As one of the key resume writing tips to use for resume writing 2021 , keep working on your bio statement until you’re convinced that it conveys you as the ideal candidate for the job.

3. Write an impactful professional summary

A professional summary serves as an appetizer for the rest of your resume. Write it effectively, and your reader will be encouraged to read the rest of your application. As you write your summary statement, consider your unique strengths, experiences, and accomplishments that you believe are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

• Customize it specifically for the job position.

• Apply keywords used in the job listing.

• Quantify your achievements with solid numbers and figures.

• Sum up all that you have to offer.

Read the job posting carefully, then evaluate your own skills and experiences to identify the value that you can bring to the job and organization.

4. Keep it simple, clean, and modern

Your resume serves as your professional first impression, so you need to make sure it looks well-organized. It represents you formally, so here are a few of the more important resume writing tips you must remember: only use high-quality paper, and print only in black and white, because it helps establish you as a serious applicant. Choose a contemporary font, such as Calibri, Garamond, or Helvetica. Strive for the perfect balance of white space and print. Keep the size of the text between 10 and 12 for legibility, and only use single spacing for your paragraphs. Finally, keep the side margins one inch wide on both sides, as this is the universally accepted standard for formal letters.

5. Hit the right keywords

Many companies and business enterprises today employ an applicant tracking system (ATS), a type of computer program that basically scans and screens resume before they are read by recruiters and hiring managers. The way these applications work is that they basically pore through resumes looking for keywords specific to the job posting. Needless to say, if your resume doesn’t contain these keywords, your application has no chance of reaching the eyes of those who will supposedly hire you.

One of the crucial resume writing tips this year: the way to beat ATS is to ensure your resume possesses the right keywords and phrases, and this requires reviewing the job post carefully and taking note of prominent terms used. For a resume tips example, let’s say you were applying for a warehouse manager position, some of the keywords you’re likely to come across include:

• Trucking inventory

• Shipping and receiving

• Cycle counting

• Vendor management

By using job-specific keywords in your resume organically and naturally, you increase your chances of passing ATS screening, getting you closer to landing that ever-important job interview.

6. Be direct and concise

As you refine your resume, you need to make sure your document emphasizes the qualities that can help you stand out from the competition. This means you need to focus on skills, experiences, and accomplishments that are relevant to the job. Avoid peppering your resume with unnecessary and irrelevant information, as these may make you appear as someone who has very little to offer to the position in question. Recruiters will appreciate a lean resume more than that has been stuffed with unrelated experience.

7. Link to your LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn has become the preferred platform for brands and organizations to engage with a professional demographic. With over 87 percent of recruiters regularly using the platform, it is now considered a huge mistake for job hunters to not have a LinkedIn profile—even more so if they fail to link it to their application.

By linking your LinkedIn profile to your resume, you provide potential employers with a way to “get to know” you beyond your document. Expect them to go through your profile and posts to see if your skills and professionalism are up to par with what they’re looking for in a candidate. Likewise, you should also expect them to look for sensitive content that may put their branding at risk. Take the time to clean up your social media pages by hiding or deleting any inappropriate posts.

8. Present your accomplishments in a quantifiable manner

Recruiters love to see hard, solid numbers on a resume because it confirms to them that you were successful at your previously held jobs. Whenever you list your accomplishments, make sure you display them using percentages, proportions, or monetary amounts. For a resume tips example, if you worked as a salesperson at your old job, don’t just say that you regularly met the company quota—let your potential employer know what the quota was, how many months were you able to meet or exceed it, and how much your previous your company profited from your efforts. Here are some resume writing guides 2021 examples of what you could say:

• Generated over 20 percent of the company’s sales total over a four-year period.

• Met and exceeded delivery targets over a 2-year period, resulting in zero production downtime for the manufacturing company during the said period.

• Created and carried out skill workshops that improved employee productivity by 20 percent.

9. Be honest

It’s easier today for employers to research a candidate’s references and work history, so don’t conflate your achievements in an attempt to impress. If a recruiter finds contradictory information when they look you up on the Internet, you may just lose the chance of getting hired. Worse, you could even get blacklisted, and no recruiter will want to work with you. For resume writing 2021, this means that your resume will never be read by a hiring manager, and finding the next job or career opportunity only becomes that much more out of reach. Be truthful and avoid such consequences.

Need more tips on resume writing 2021?

Resumeble’s Career Advice section has many useful articles to help you develop your resume into the best application document it can possibly be. If you need help with your resume, we have expert writers who will work with you one on one to chisel your resume into a top-caliber application that showcases your best qualifications and highlights the value that you can deliver as an employee. Take advantage of our highly in-demand resume writing 2021 services today.

• 7 seconds: this is how long your resume has either to impress or be ignored by the recruiter 
• 300+: average number of applications one corporate job opening posted online receives 
• 3%: number of sent resumes that result in interviews 

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You can use MyPerfectResume’s Resume Builder free of charge for instant access to step-by-step prompts, pro tips, integrated spell-check, content suggestions from Certified Resume Writers and unlimited free resume downloads in plain text (.txt) format. 

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Using an online resume maker simplifies your job application process. It saves time, allows you to reformat sections without impacting the entire document and transfers your information automatically if you want to change templates while you make your resume.

MyPerfectResume’s quick and easy resume builder includes expert-written content suggestions and professional writing and formatting guidance. This ensures that your resume features the right skills, qualifications and  keywords  to help you get noticed by hiring managers.

The best free resume builder platform for 2024 is MyPerfectResume’s resume generator. An excellent free resume maker doesn’t just give you a bland template and stuff it with generic information. Instead, it helps you craft a tailored resume that gets noticed by hiring managers.

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Our resume builder includes expert content suggestions that target the keywords employers are looking for so that your resume  highlights the right skills  and qualifications.

The chronological resume format (also known as reverse-chronological) is the most common resume format for job seekers in 2024.

The top three resume formats are the  chronological resume , the  functional resume  and the  combination resume . Our guides for each resume format can help you write a resume that highlights the value you bring to a potential employer.

A chronological resume focuses on work history and is the most popular format for job seekers. A functional resume emphasizes skills and is great for job seekers with minimal professional experience. A combination resume details skills and work history and is an excellent choice for job seekers pursuing a career change.

Your  resume format  will depend on your skills, relevant qualifications and years of experience. Our resume builder offers chronological, functional and combination resume templates so that you can choose the format that works best for you.

An ATS-friendly resume is a resume that is formatted and written such that applicant tracking systems (ATS) can effectively read and parse important information and keywords.

MyPerfectResume includes a  Resume Check  feature that scans your resume for ATS requirements to ensure that it is optimized both for screening software and for human readers.

Most employers use an ATS to weed out applications that are missing important keywords relating to the desired skills and qualifications for the role.

Using a resume template that is not optimized for ATS puts your application at risk of failing ATS screening and never making it to the hiring manager.

The best resume template to use in 2024 is one that is simple, easy to read and ATS-friendly. MyPerfectResume offers dozens of professionally designed, ATS-optimized  resume templates  that are free to try and easy to customize.

An ATS-compliant professional resume builder template takes the guesswork out of resume building. With our free online resume builder, you’ll have a polished and ATS-friendly resume in matter of minutes.

Although it is not required to use the same template for your resume and cover letter, doing so gives your job application a cohesive look. We have 40+ professionally designed  resume templates  available that can be matched with our selection of  cover letter templates .

You can choose a resume template based on your personal style or the requirements listed in the job description. We know the federal government requires special attention, and these  federal resume templates  were created to meet those needs.

With our Resume Builder and  Cover Letter Builder , you can create a polished job application with matching documents.

Unsure about  how to write a cover letter ? Our  cover letter examples  can help guide you through the process of finding the best  cover letter format  for you.

Ideally, a professional resume should be one page long. A one-page resume is especially important for students, recent graduates and entry-level professionals, who should aim to keep their resumes succinct so that hiring managers can easily scan them for the necessary information.  

Professionals with several years of experience may require a two-page resume, which is acceptable so long as all prior roles listed are relevant to the target role. Our free resume builder will help you create a resume that highlights your relevant skills without compromising readability.

A resume should outline the last ten years of your work experience . You can go further back if the employer is requesting more experience, which is why it is crucial to pay close attention to the job posting. 

Using an impactful resume template will help you include all the information you need in an easy-to-read format. Rest assured that with our Resume Builder online free platform, you can quickly and easily build a resume online that fits your career trajectory.

Yes. A  targeted resume  has a higher chance of getting noticed by hiring managers. Each job you apply for will have different requirements and needs, which should be accounted for in your resume.

Your resume should highlight skills that match the job description in order to catch the recruiter’s attention. The right resume format and resume template will help you showcase your strengths and present the value you bring to the potential employer.

MyPerfectResume’s online resume maker free service provides expert-written content suggestions that are tailored to your target job title so that your resume reflects the skills and qualifications that employers in your field are seeking.

Yes. MyPerfectResume is safe, secure and legitimate. We care deeply about protecting our users. Take a look at our  terms of use ,  privacy policy  and  cookie policy  to learn more about how we protect your personal account information.

You can also check out our  about us page  to meet MyPerfectResume’s team of career advice experts. If you need a personalized and professionally written resume, our resume writing services are available for you.

For any concerns or questions regarding your account information, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer support team:

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Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW

Career advice expert.

Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.

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‡ Results derived from a study responded by 1000 participants of which 287 created a resume online.

*The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with MyPerfectResume.

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How do I update my resume to help land that job? Ask HR

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society and author of "Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval.”

Have a question? Submit it here .

Question: Since leaving a job I have had for almost a decade, I have primarily conducted my job search online. I have used the same resume design since I started working 12 years ago. Should I update my resume design to be more effective? What do you recommend for building a modern resume? – Sandra

Answer: Updating your resume design can indeed be a wise move, especially if you've been using the same format for a long time. A fresh, modern design can help your resume stand out and leave a positive impression on recruiters and hiring managers. Here’s what I recommend for building a modern resume:

◾ Clean, professional layout: Opt for a layout that’s visually appealing and easy to read. Avoid cluttered designs and overly decorative elements that may distract from your content.

◾ Font selection: Stick to standard, easy-to-read fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. These fonts are widely accepted and compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), ensuring your résumé is easily scannable by both humans and software.

◾ Incorporate keywords: Tailor your resume to each job application by incorporating industry-specific keywords and phrases relevant to the position. Many companies use ATS to screen résumés, so this will increase the likelihood of your resume being noticed.

◾ Organized sections: Structure your resume into clear sections, including Contact Information, Summary or Objective, Work Experience, Skills, Education and any additional relevant sections such as Certifications or Volunteer Work. This organization makes it easy for recruiters to quickly find the information they need.

◾ Summary/objective statement: Start your résumé with a summary that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. Keep it concise, focusing on what sets you apart and what you aim to achieve in your career.

◾ Accomplishment-oriented experience: When listing your work experience, focus on highlighting your accomplishments, rather than just listing job duties. Use quantifiable achievements whenever possible, to demonstrate your impact, such as increasing sales by a certain percentage or leading successful projects.

◾ Skills section: Dedicate a section to showcasing your key skills and competencies, including both technical skills and soft skills relevant to the job. This section provides recruiters with a quick overview of your capabilities.

◾ Proofreading: Before submitting your resume, thoroughly proofread it to ensure there are no grammatical errors, typos, or formatting issues. Consider having someone else review your resume for feedback and additional insights.

By updating your resuméewith a modern design and incorporating these key elements, you can increase your chances of making a strong impression in today’s competitive job market. Good luck with your job search!

Ghosting a job Is it bad to ghost low priority potential employers? Ask HR

I've been denied PTO requests on multiple occasions, which is becoming increasingly frustrating. Most of them are denied on the grounds of staffing needs. Do I have any recourse in fighting these denials? What can I do to ensure PTO approvals? – Chanette

You may indeed have some recourse in addressing these denied paid time off requests. Start by reviewing your company's PTO policy and procedures. Many employers have specific guidelines regarding PTO requests, including deadlines for submission and limits on the number of employees who can be on leave simultaneously, to ensure adequate staffing levels.

First, check if your PTO requests were made in accordance with company policy. If they were not, ensure that you adhere to the established procedures for future requests, to increase the likelihood of approval.

However, if you followed company policy and your requests were still denied, consider discussing the matter with your manager or the human resources team. Seek clarification on the reasons for the denials and inquire about potential strategies to improve the approval rate for your requests.

It's also essential to consider whether your state mandates sick leave, and if your company uses PTO to fulfill those requirements. If so, your employer may be obligated to approve leave requests that align with qualifying reasons for sick leave under the law. If you’re uncertain about your state’s sick leave requirements, consult your HR team for clarification.

Ultimately, unless there is a contractual agreement or policy stating otherwise, employers typically have discretion in managing PTO usage. However, by following company procedures and addressing your concerns with management or HR, you may increase the likelihood of having your PTO requests approved more frequently.

Salaried, nonexempt What does that mean? Ask HR

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• Career Advice

Resume Trends 2021 (Analysis of 670,000 Documents)

Our customers have been hired by:

When creating your resume, you put a lot of work and commitment into it. 

But competition in the job market is fierce, which raises the question—How well does your resume stack up against other candidates in your field? Is it actually that good, or is there some room for improvement? 

We're here to help you find out.

We’ve analyzed more than 670,000 resumes created in our builder to get a snapshot of what a resume should look like in 2021. 

We also took a look at what candidates across the most popular professions had to say about their work experience, career goals, and skills.

Finally, we crunched the numbers on how job seekers approach their job hunt in 2021. What keywords do they use to define their area of expertise? What is the length of their resumes? How many resume versions does each user make?

Our analysis has the answers.

What we've discovered about resumes (and how to use that knowledge to beat the competition)

Let's start with a look at what an average resume looks like in 2021. 

Now let’s take a look at the details

Resume length

• Average resume length: 439 words 
• Median resume length: 406 words

Distribution (limited to resumes of 1000 words or fewer):

For a typical resume created in our builder, the cut-off point for a single page is about 380 words. So the data clearly shows that the average candidate sticks to the classic one-page limit.

However, this is not the best possible strategy.

Contrary to popular belief, recruiters often prefer two-page resumes. Statistically, recruiters are 2.9 times more likely to choose a candidate with a two-page resume for management jobs and 1.4 times more likely for entry-level employment if the applicant has a two-page resume.

Furthermore, 77% of employers believe that seasoned professionals seem less experienced when utilizing a one-page resume.

This, however, wasn’t the worst resume gaffe we came across. Most job searchers commit a much worse offense. 

Pay attention. This is the single biggest resume mistake that most candidates make.

How many resumes per user?

• Average resume number: 1.4 resume per user
• Median resume number: 1 resume per user

The figures above are particularly alarming. 

Why? Because the most successful job-search technique is to adapt each resume to the job ad's requirements (63% of recruiters want to receive resumes tailored to the role). 

In other words, you should make a new resume for each job application.

Yet—most users choose to write a single generic resume and attach it to all job applications. Here's why it's such a huge blunder:

• On average, only 10% of job applications result in an invitation to an interview.
• Just 20% of those who get an interview are offered a job.
• So the success percentage of job applications ranges from 2% to 3.4% , depending on the study.
• That means you'll need to send between 30 and 50 resumes to land a job

And copying and pasting the same old resume into every application just won’t cut it.

It’s not all bad news, though.

Some job seekers do create multiple resumes tailored to the requirements of each employer. We noted some particularly diligent candidates had created more than 100 resumes. 

The user with the most resumes had produced 363 unique documents . Is this the approach we suggest when adapting your resume to the job description? Perhaps not. Is it more successful than spamming 300+ firms with the same resume? 

The answer is a resounding yes. Every reputable career expert and recruiter recommends you tailor your resume to the job description. It’s hard to quantify, but we’d guesstimate it’s 10x more effective than using the same resume every time.

However, only 2% of all users have created 5 or more resumes.  

Now let's take a look at the actual content of an average resume in 2021.

What resume sections do job seekers use?

Almost every user we analyzed included the five main resume sections. These are the sections considered a must-have by most employers and recruiters.

Here are the numbers.

Standard must-have resume sections:

• Personal Information: 99% of resumes
• Education: 99% of resumes
• Work Experience: 97% of resumes
• Resume Summary or Objective: 95% of resumes 
• Skills: 95% of resumes 

These sections are the gold standard. And what’s particularly promising from our perspective is how common the skills section, as well as the heading statement (Summary or Objective) are. 

We encourage every job seeker to include those sections on their resume and make sure they’re written well. 

That’s because recruiters really want to learn about your abilities. So it’s critical that you include them.

In fact, according to the American Sociological Review, not using a list of professional skills can hurt a resume as much as one year of unemployment. 

And despite it being a bone of contention amongst career experts, it's an excellent practice to include a heading statement.

Just don't make it seem like an old-fashioned aspirational career goal, and stick to what you can contribute to the employer.

But today's job seekers don’t limit themselves to traditional resume sections. Most of them include at least one extra resume section to show they have something more to offer.

Need some inspiration? Here are the most popular additional resume sections as revealed by our analysis.

Additional sections:

• Languages (36%)
• Certifications (27%)
• Custom (user-defined) section (25%)
• Interests (17%)
• Software (17%)

Note that while certificates are the second most common extra section, only one in four job seekers lists them. 

But it’s the single most provable method of demonstrating your knowledge. So if you have any certifications, make sure to list them separately and prominently on your resume. 

And for some professions, certifications are even more important. Registered Nurses, Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Accountants, and Project Managers all use certifications significantly more than other professions.

So if you happen to work in one of those industries, pay even closer attention to your Certifications section.

Most Common Resume Skills

Finally, let's take a look at the most frequent skills included on resumes by job seekers.

Why is it important? Think about it in terms of supply and demand. When some talents appear on resumes more frequently than others, it tends to be because recruiters want to see such skills.

You don’t have to include every skill below on your resume. Remember, you should always tailor your resume to the job requirements.

But if you genuinely have any of these skills, and it’s relevant to the role, then be sure to include a few of them. Pay special attention to soft skills, as these are vital for every job and highly sought after by all employers.

Top 10 most common soft skills listed in resumes

• Communications (14%)
• Customer Service (9%)
• Project Management (7%)
• Time Management (6%)
• Leadership (5%)
• Problem Resolution (5%)
• Problem-Solving (5%)
• Team Management (5%)
• Quick Learning (4%)
• Teamwork (4%)

Top 10 most common hard skills listed in resumes

• Microsoft Office (7%)
• Microsoft Excel (5%)
• Strategy Planning (4%)
• Python (4%)
• Data Analytics (3%)
• JavaScript (3%)
• Microsoft PowerPoint (3%)

Note: 9 out of 10 most common hard skills are software skills.

Believe it or not, studies reveal that learning more than one language significantly improves your employment prospects.

With so much business being online, many businesses now cater to a worldwide audience. As a result, many firms find it advantageous to recruit staff who can communicate in more than one language. You’re more valuable if you can communicate with as many of their consumers as possible.

Furthermore, learning a second language opens up more work options and increases your earning potential. Depending on the language, you could earn from 5% to 20% per hour higher than the base wage for single language speakers.

English is, of course, the most common language stated on resumes. But what other languages have a large following?

Top 10 most common languages listed in resumes

• English (69%)
• Hindi (19%)
• Spanish (16%)
• French (11%)
• Arabic (9%)
• German (7%)
• Russian (4%)
• Telugu (3%)
• Marathi (3%)

However, it isn’t just human languages that are a popular choice in resumes. When it comes to the most common hard skills, programming languages took 5 of the 10 most popular positions . This is also reflected in the most popular computer skills listed on resumes.

Top 10 most common computer skills listed on resumes

• Microsoft Office (25%)
• Microsoft Office Excel (19%)
• Teamwork adaptability (14%)
• Microsoft Office Word (13%)
• Microsoft Office PowerPoint (11%)
• Photoshop (8%)
• Python (7%)
• AutoCAD (5%)
• MATLAB (4%)

Hobbies and Interests on Resumes

Interests are subjects that fascinate you, and you want to learn more about. 

But when it comes to your resume, you need to take care. Selecting hobbies and interests is about choosing what aspects of your personality and professional skills you want to emphasize and communicate. 

So rather than being interesting to you alone, the hobbies and interests you put on your resume should say something about you to the hiring manager. You can use them to:

• Resonate with the interviewer.
• Give them an entry for an ice-breaker question.
• Signal professional skills and traits they might be looking for.

And that’s exactly why the right and interesting selection of hobbies included in the resume is so important. Does this mean that popular interests should be avoided? Not necessarily. Is it worth considering an interesting perspective on them? Absolutely.

Focus on the unique aspects of your hobby. Don’t just say “blogging.” Specify what you blog about and how successful your blog is. And try to match your hobbies and interests to the requirements of the job.

If the role requires an outgoing team player, then sports would be a great choice.

And below you will find a list of the interests most commonly mentioned by our users:

Top 10 common interests listed on resume

• Reading (26%)
• Blogging (17%)
• Travelling (15%)
• Sports (5%)
• Cooking (5%)
• Photography (5%)
• Football (3%)
• Swimming (3%)

Keywords are key

In our study, we also looked at the most popular keywords used in resumes.

Resume keywords describe experience, skills, traits, and the job title itself. Hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems alike scan resumes looking for these keywords to see if the candidate matches the requirements for a job.

If you don’t have what they’re looking for, then they’ll move on to someone who does. So it pays to know what keywords are expected.

And again, don’t just copy these lists into your resume. Incorporate keywords naturally into your resume content and keep them relevant to the job.

When we carried out our analysis we split our datasets according to profession. Below you’ll find the keywords used in three of the most popular professions amongst our users.

Top 10 Software Engineer Keywords

• Development
• Angular 

Administrative Assistant

• Administrative
• Skills 
• Environment
• Concurrent 

Project Manager

• Construction
• Specification

There is no single “right” way of crafting your resume. It’s a document that should be as unique as the person who writes it.

But there are some simple rules, backed up by our data, that will allow you to stand out from the crowd and win the hearts of recruiters. 

Here’s what you need to remember:

• Most job seekers write one-page resumes, but you don’t have to. A two-page resume is often preferred by recruiters , especially for more experienced candidates.
• Most job seekers keep reusing the same resume for multiple job applications. Don’t follow their lead. Write a fresh, specifically targeted resume for each role.
• You should add extra sections to your resume, and a certifications section is particularly important if you’re a nurse or an engineer.
• Know what keywords are expected for your job. If you fail to include them, you’re setting yourself up for rejection.

Follow this simple advice, and you'll earn credibility with recruiters and hiring managers, boosting your employability chances in the process.

Methodology

For this study, we extracted data from over 2,000,000 resumes created with our resume builder. To keep the data more relevant, we limited the analysis to downloaded resumes only (assuming those were actually used in the job search). For the analysis of the most common entries, skills, and keywords, we further limited the sample to one document per user—leaving us with 670,437 resumes.

The data for the most popular professions comes from documents in which a user’s job title exactly matches the job title discussed (i.e. for a given resume to be included in the “software engineer” resume analysis, the job title on the resume must read “Software Engineer” with no permutations such as “Senior Software Engineer” etc.).

Limitations

The accuracy of the data regarding the most common skills and foreign languages is limited by users’ inconsistent spelling and phrasing. We tried to include all possible variations of skill descriptions (e.g. “MS Office” or “Microsoft Office”, as well as “Spanish” or “Spanish: Fluent,” etc.), but certain instances might have been omitted. The percentages denoting the most common skills and foreign languages listed by users might be underestimated by up to 0.5.

• 10 Current Resume Trends & Forecasts You Should Be Thinking About
• Can Speaking Two Languages Increase Your Job Prospects?
• Costly Mistakes: Why and When Spelling Errors in Resumes Jeopardise Interview Chances
• Creating a Strong Resume
• Employers Share Their Most Outrageous Resume Mistakes and Instant Deal Breakers in a New CareerBuilder Study  
• Soft Skills That Employers are Seeking

Fair use statement

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If you think your audience will be interested in this information, we’d love you to share it for noncommercial reuse. All we ask in return is that you link back here so that the authors get full credit and your readers can view the full study.

Zety analyzed thousands of job applications to create the best cover letter templates out there. Braced with this knowledge, our experts advise on modern resume formats , free resume templates , and even which skills are must-haves on resumes .

Article summary

The article "Resume Trends 2021: Best Practices for Job Seekers" discusses the latest trends and best practices for creating a strong and effective resume in 2021. The article highlights the importance of incorporating keywords, using a clear and concise format, and tailoring the resume to the job description. Additionally, the article recommends using metrics and data to quantify achievements, including a summary statement at the top of the resume, and utilizing online tools to enhance the design and appearance of the document. Finally, the article emphasizes the need for job seekers to continuously update their resumes and tailor them for each job application.

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines . We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

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